A TROWBRIDGE woman died after suffering a head injury possibly caused by an alcohol withdrawal-induced seizure, an inquest has heard.

But the hearing in Salisbury on Tuesday was told there was no evidence to show it related to an assault three days earlier which left her with a black eye.

Helen Barker, 37, of Shearman Street, was found dead at her home last September by her father Paul Wayne. The inquest heard how Mrs Barker had struggled with issues relating to alcoholism for a number of years, including incidents of self-harm and eating disorders, and that during her alcohol addiction, she had struck up a friendship with Patrick Drinkwater, of Longfield House, in Trowbridge.

A statement from Mr Wayne read to the inquest said: “I was aware she became friends with Patrick Drinkwater. On September 5 he had slapped her in the face, she had a black eye. She said she had reported it to the police."

The inquest in Salisbury was told by Detective Constable Nigel Bullimore, based in the Marlborough crime unit, that: “Mr Drinkwater admitted to slapping her. He said that it was a slight backhand slap to calm her down as she was getting very angry. Mr Drinkwater has been sanctioned for common assault.”

After Mrs Barker's death, police carried out an investigation. This week they confirmed a 78-year-old man initially arrested on suspicion of ABH and manslaughter has been dealt with by way of an adult caution for common assault.

Ian Singleton, assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, told the hearing that the cause of death was either accidental or natural, caused by a withdrawal-induced seizure which led Mrs Barker to fall.

Mr Singleton said: “On September 8 Helen Barker suffered from a seizure and fell face first into her sofa cushion, which led to her death.

“There is no evidence to suggest that the assault on September 5 was a direct cause or linked to Helen’s death and she didn’t suffer any further assault after that date.”

A statement was read from Patrick Drinkwater's son, Martin Drinkwater, who had met Mrs Barker at his father’s house on September 5, saying: “I saw Helen in the conservatory on her phone, when I knocked she turned away and carried on talking. I went to speak to my father but he was drunk and wouldn’t talk to me. I never knew my father to be aggressive or violent.”

Tim Barker, Mrs Barker's estranged husband, who had taken her home from Mr Drinkwater’s house three days before her death, told the hearing he had also seen her the night before she died, when he asked her if she had spoken to a police officer about the incident, but she ignored him. When he left her she was lying on the sofa under a duvet.

Reports from medical staff who had previously seen Mrs Barker said that due to her intense alcoholism that she would have seizures as a result of withdrawal.

Mr Wayne, who found her body on the sofa in her flat, said: “When I found her she had her face pushed right up in the corner of the sofa. She was lying on her arms which may have made it difficult to breath. I had seen her have seizures before where she would tense up and fall, she wouldn’t remember it afterwards.”

Mrs Barker grew up in Bradford on Avon, where she attended St Laurence School. As a young woman, she took part in one of the first series of the popular TV show Masterchef.

After the hearing the Wayne family issued a statement which read: “The loss of Helen has been heart-breaking for us and distressing for all who were associated with her. It is a tragedy that this beautiful and talented young woman, with such potential, should have her life cut short in this way. After such a promising start her life became marred, firstly by bulimia and more latterly by alcohol addiction. She battled these demons on and off for many years.

“Along with medical and mental health professionals, to whom we are most grateful, we endeavoured to support her in her struggle to become well. There were times over this period when she would fight back and then, for a while, would re-emerge as the endearing person we all knew. This kept the hope alive that she would eventually overcome her problems. Whilst we gave her all the help we could, unfortunately there were others she met along the way who preyed on her vulnerability which hindered her chances of regaining a normal life.

“We have yet to come to terms with her passing and the fact that we will never see her again is almost too difficult to comprehend. At present our feelings are still very raw but we know that our grief will be assuaged by time.

“She is constantly in our thoughts and we love and miss her so much.”